Intro 2

Health Paradox is

the pattern that many immigrants arrive in a new country with an overall better health than people born here

Health Paradox isn’t universal

Arab American doesn’t show the same initial health advantage (arrive with higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, other chronic illness)

Health Paradox advantages fades over time

The longer the immigrants live in the new country, the more their health outcomes start to catch up (even fall below the health of the native-born population)

The reasons these health advantages fade over time is bc: 1) chronic stress

experience discrimination, language barriers, and the pressure of adjusting to new environment

The reasons these health advantages fade over time is bc: 2) Lifestyle changes

traditional diet → fast food/processed meals

The reasons this health advantages fades over time is bc: 3) Healthcare access

struggle to find affordable and culturally sensitive care

Why does Health Paradox happen: 1) Healthy Migrant Effect

Migration requires energy, resources, and resilience, so people who can migrate may already be healthier than those who remain behind

Why does Health Paradox happen: 2) Role of Culture

immigrants who maintain strong family bonds, community networks, and traditional practices may be protected against some health risks

Health Care Cost: US

Spend more on health care than almost any other country in the word, but health outcomes are often worse than in other wealthy nations

Reason for this in the US is mainly bc

Resources such as abudanced hospitals, cutting-edge technology, and highly trained professional aren’t equally available (Fragmented system)

Stressor in the US mainly is

Cost - medical debt is one of the leading causes of financial anxiety for American families - constant stress affects mental health, worsens physical health, and contributes to unhealthy coping behavior

Health Care Cost: Global

Canada, UK, Germany, and Japan spend far less per person on health care but often see better outcomes - bc of Universal Health Care

Healthcare costs are closely tied to

the way societies think about prevention

Primary Prevention is

steps taken to stop illness before it ever begins

Ex: Vaccines, campaigns to reduce smoking

Second Prevention is

detecting problems early so they can be treated before becoming serious

Ex: Screening such as pap smears, mammograms, colonoscopies, and blood pressure checks

Tertiary Prevention is

managing illness once it has already developed, with the goal of preventing complications and improving quality of life

Ex: cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or physical therapy following a stroke

Across all 3 states, one lessen stands out

Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than waiting for illness to become severe

Health behavior may be influenced by factors: Stigma & Beliefs about illness

whether illness is seen as medical, moral, or spiritual shapes how people feel (safe/comfortable) about seeking help

Ex: In MENA communities, beliefs about supernatural forces mean illness may be framed spiritually, so people turn to faith healers before doctors

Health behavior may be influenced by factors: Culture & Religion/Spirituality

Religious and cultural worldviews shape what “health” even means and how people respond to illness

Ex: Afro-Caribbean communities’ use of hoodoo reflects a culturally pluralistic view of health that doesn’t fit Western biomedical models

Health behavior may be influenced by factors: Family & Social Network

Health decisions often happen at the level of family or community, not just the individual

Ex: In many Asian communities, mental health care has historically been handled within the family, often with traditional or religious healers

Health behavior may be influenced by factors: Access to resources & community/social expectations

structural and economic conditions determine who can actually act on their health needs

Ex: In Latin America, economic inequality and political instability directly limit access to health services

Health behavior may be influenced by factors: Historical Experiences & Trust/Mistrust

Past experiences with medical/political systems shape whether people trust or avoid them today

Ex: Afro-Caribbean/African Diaspora communities’ pluralistic health traditions reflect “long histories of resilience“ - built partly because Western systems aren’t trustworthy or accessible

Community Health Psychology

understanding health where people actually live and involving communities in developing solutions

Ex of Community Health Psychology

How can we work with the community to improve health

Critical Health Psychology

Looks at power, inequality, and social systems that affect health

Ex of Critical Health Psychology

Why do some people/groups have less access to health and healthcare